Gold Coast man sentenced after elaborate scheme to steal $100,000 intended for brother

More than three years after devising an elaborate plan to steal $100,000 that was intended for his own brother, a Gold Coast man has been sentenced to time in prison.

A man has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of intercepting $100,000 intended for his brother.

Three years after hatching a calculated plan to steal $100,000 from the Australian Government intended for his brother, a Gold Coast man has found out just how much the scheme will cost him.

The accused guilty plea to one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception in the Southport District Court on Thursday, after devising a plan to impersonate his brother to intercept a $100,000 payment from government.

Federal prosecutor Kate Archibald told the court the accused had used his brother’s identity information to set up a bank account, to which he was able to direct the lump sum payment intended for his brother.

Ms Archibald said the accused also called a government authority on eight occasions impersonating his brother, even becoming emotional, saying he was living in his car and “not doing well.”

The court heard the fraud was not discovered until the accused’s brother called the same authority, enquiring about the status of his claim, only to be told it had already been paid out.

The brother was eventually paid the $100,000 sum, and the investigation into where the money had gone was opened.

The court heard the accused brother had no capacity to pay back what he stole.

A mindboggling deception by a man against his own brother has been heard in Southport court. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Chronology

On January 12, 2021, the application was lodged from the innocent brother, and he was informed on November 12, 2021 the application had been successful. On November 26, 2021, the innocent brother provided his bank details to the government, to receive his payment of $100,000.

However, on November 23, 2021, the accused brother set up a bank account using his innocent brother’s information, then contacted the authority on eight occasions, eventually getting the $100,000 sum paid into the imposter account on December 13.

Between December 13 and December 29, $99,837 was emptied from the account, and transferred to various accounts as well as payments to Afterpay and large cash withdrawals.

On September 21, 2022 Australian Federal Police searched the accused’s address and upon searching his phone found texts between himself and another party discussing the intention to open a mule account, using a relative’s phone number to avoid detections and what they wanted to do with the money, which included IVF, massages, going to Brisbane and buying an outfit for court.

On December 12, 2024, the accused pleaded guilty to the offence, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ordered to pay reparations to the authority.

The accused is set to be released on parole on February 28, 2025, with 75 days declared as time served.